Alternate object display apparatus



May 20, 1952 HS. WHITE ALTERNATE OBJECT DISPLAY APPARATUS Filed Dec. 14, 1948 mm V w y. e m 8 m D 0,

A Home] Patented May 20, 1952 UNITED, STATES ATENT FFICE 1 Claim. 1

The present invention relates to display apparatus'and a primary object thereof is to provide an apparatus wherein changing displays created byoptical illusion are effected by means affording uniform timing of transition between full 11- lumination and black out of the displayed matter.

Another object of the invention is to provide an illusion display apparatus wherein the i1- lumination is controlled by a rotary member.

A further object of the invention is to provide illuminated display apparatus having means for selectively regulating the intensity of light directed upon the matter cast upon the viewing screen.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a'disp'lay apparatus of the aforesaid character which is economical and highly eflicient in operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description progresses. y

In the accompanying drawing, wherein are illustrated a preferred and a modified embodiment of the invention:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a preferred form of the apparatus with the major part of the top removed:

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical section on line 2-2 of Figure l Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along line 44 of Figure l; and

Figure 5 is a top plan view of a modified form a of the apparatus.

Although the apparatus of the invention is applicable to displays of varying size and form, the accompanying drawing, wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout, illustrate examples of magic box type of display apparatus.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 4, wherein is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, generally designates a box like cabinet of rectangular form having four vertical exterior walls II, l2, l3 and I4 rising from a horizontal bottom l5 to a top I 6. Wall I I, forming the front of the cabinet, has a viewing opening ll therein looking into a transparent reflecting member t8. Member Hi, which is advantageously a mirror reflecting light on one side or displaying therethrough objects illuminated on its reverse side, is mounted vertically between the top and bottom of the cabinet and extends diagonally from the juncture of walls II and I2 to a right angular wall section l9 disposed rearwardly in the cabinet. Thus, reflector l8 assumes an angle of approximately 45 with the front wall H.

In the rearward corner of the cabinet and coplanar with reflector [8 is a vertical partition wall 20 extending from the angular wall l9 to the corner at the juncture of side walls 13 and 14. In its inward part wall 28 is provided with a triangular shaped opening 2i communicating with a horizontally elongated opening 22 in its outer part. Mounted in opening 2'2, to swing about a vertical axis on pivot connections 23, is a U-shaped bracket 24 having fixed on its medial portion a socket 25 adapted for connection with a source of electric current. In socket 2-5 is fitted a light bulb 26 disposed in a horizontal position adapted to project into and swing through open ing 2|.

To each of the converging edges of opening 2| are secured a pair of complementary bafile supports 30, each support having an attaching flange 3i mounted vertically against a side face of wall 2:) with the opposed pair of flanges firmly fastened to the wall, as by rivets 32. The body of each support 38 comprises an elongated transversely curved wing 33 having an outwardly opening slot 34. Fitted within the slot of each wing 33 for frictional sliding adjustment about a conical contour substantially corresponding to the angularity of the converging edges of opening 2| is an arouately curved baflle plate 35, the complemental pair at each side of partition 20 defining the top and bottom limits of the light aperture.

On a support 40 fixed on the vertical wall section I9 is mounted an electric motor 4i adapted to be wired to a source of current and having its horizontally arranged shaft protruding into wall opening 2|. To the shaft of motor II is fastened an opaque reflector 42 having the configuration of one-half of the surface of a cone tapered in conformity with the angle of the wings 33 and rotatable with the shaft within opening 2| and about light bulb 26. As reflector 42 covers an angle of approximately it will completely close the light aperture defined by bafiles 35 at one side while the aperture at the opposite side of partition 20 is entirely unobstructed during each cycle of operation, as shown at Figure 3. As

shown at Figures 1 and 2 a reflecting plate 43 is fixed against the vertical edge of opening 2| in a vertical plane perpendicular to the axis of the shaft of motor 4| so that the light from the light source will be most effectively directed to illuminate zones along Walls II and I2. As will be one aperture While closing the other and, during each cycle of revolution, attains a'position- During its move"-' 1 ment reflector 42 gradually. admits light through.

wherein one aperture is fully open andthereverse aperture is completely closed so as to effect a gradual fading of one display as the. other brightens. By varying ,the speed of motor shaft rotation-the periods ctr-transition between maximum illumination can be readily controlled. Moreover,-.the intensity of. light in either or both object containing zones may be regulated by angular adjustment of baiiles 35 on wings 33 to vary the size of the light apertures. The degree of: illumination-can. also be vadjustedby swingingxthe bulb and its support bracket with respect toits. pivot mounting, in a horizontal are, and

within the confines the conical travel of reflector 42,:where the nature of the set up is such that greaterintensity of light at one side than the other improves the effect.

For: the display of. pictorial and like matter in lieu of.-'threedimensional objects the apparatus mayadvantageously bemodified as shown in Fig ure 5 :to provide. additionalreflectors, such. as. re.- flecting platesz60 and 61- mounted vertically-in the light zones at the respective sides of reflector l 8..v These auxiliary reflectors. function. to. direct the lightrays, cast by the .bulb through. therespective sideapertures, through. picture panels .62 mounted vertically in'the cabinet at eachside of the :viewing reflector perpendicular to walls H and I2. and: the like.

By provision. of .the light reflectingv and screen,-

These panels may be transparent slides ing member rotative about the light source, uniform timing of the cycles of illumination and black out with intervening transition periods is obtained with convenient control of timing through the intermediacy of known motor or other forms of speed regulation. The adjustability of the aperture baflles and lamp are alsoeonducive of better matter projection upon the display screen.

Itwill be obvious to thoseskille'd-in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited to that which .is. shown in the drawing and, described in the specification but only as indicated in :the appended claim.

What. is. claimedis:

In a display apparatus, a closed rectangular cabinet having a view opening in one side, a vertical transparent reflecting screen extending diagonally in said cabinet, an opaque. partitionan ranged in coplanar relation-.with said screenand providedwith an opening -medially therein; a lamp mounted in saidopeninga pair of diametrically opposed conicallyshapedbaffles: mounted on said partition and-within the opening thereof and providing light apertures therebetween, said baffles being formed toprovide plate. guiding: slots, a light directing :memberrotative about a. horizontal axis and within said gbafiies 1to. successively direct light: through the apertures between said baffles, and .;curv.ed plates slidablvfitted in the slotstof the baffles and circumferentially adjustable thereinxto "selectively vary the. size ;of the baflles and the light apertures between the baffles.

HERBERT SIDNEY'WHITE.

REFERENCES CITED The -followingreferences are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITEDSTATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,900,059 Hayter u .Mar. 7,- 1933 1,993,836 Gillet al Man-12, 1935 

